Montroe, the star of Richard Rowe's Storrington Stables has been sold for an undisclosed sum because his owner, Meriel Tufnell, has taken up golf!

Luckily, Montroe is to stay at Ashleigh House Stables where he will be trained for next year's Martell Grand National.

Rowe said: "Meriel is a victim of arthritis and while she can still walk a fair distance she wants to play as much golf on as many courses as possible. Selling her horse will enable her to do that."

Tufnell, 50, made racing history when winning the first Ladies Race under the rules of racing in this country, on Scorched Earth at Kempton Park in 1972.

Rowe said "Montroe has been bought by a syndicate headed up by one of my owners, Tony Harris.

"Both my jockey, Barry Fenton, and I feel he is a real Aintree type and he will tackle the Hennessey at Newbury in November as part of his programme this season."

In common with his ex-boss, Josh Gifford, Richard Rowe does not support summer jump racing and there will be just a handful of runners from his stable between now and October. Only a few changes have taken place at Ashleigh House since the end of last season which produced 18 winners.

"My good conditional (claiming) rider Andrew Garrity has gone back home to Yorkshire where he is based with Mary Revely," said Rowe. "But I have a couple of promising lads in the yard who are very keen to become jockeys and I hope to give them a chance if they keep improving."

Among the equine newcomers to the stables is a five-year-old from Ireland, Native New Yorker, who will be running in novice hurdles.

Rowe said: "He is owned by John Symes whose Ice Cool Lad has been a disappointment. We hope he will do better with Native New Yorker, but we shall persevere with Ice Cool Lad who will be tried over fences this season."